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About this project

Hello, and thank you for checking out our project! The PowerPot is a a portable electric generator that doubles as a cooking pot. It can be used indoors or outside and works with any fuel source. Unlike solar power, The PowerPot works day or night, rain or shine to bring you the electricity you need to keep charging, anytime, anywhere! We've reached our final stages of prototyping and it is time to bring this wonderful device to the market. With your
help, we hope to get Power Pots into the hands of the people who need it most, and onto your own stove or campfire! People all over the world--whether they be herders in remote villages, backpacking enthusiasts, or city residents worried about potential power outages--can benefit from having a personal
generator that makes electricity from cooking.

Simply put, The PowerPot transforms the
heat from cooking into electricity with no moving parts. This is done using a technology called
thermoelectric power generation. Thermoelectric technology was discovered in the early
1800’s, but found no consumer application in power generation due to the relatively high power needs of the devices in use at
the time. However, times have changed. Today, nearly everyone uses
microelectronics-based devices (smart phones, mp3 players, GPS units, etc.) which consume less than 5 watts of
power.

Paul and I are both materials science
engineers and avid campers. We came up
with the concept of the PowerPot 5 years ago, because as much as we love the
silence and solitude of the great outdoors, we wanted the option to listen to
music and to charge our electronic gizmos while we were away from the power
grid. We also wanted a power source that
is lightweight, has no moving parts, and most
importantly, is reliable and easy to use. After many
prototypes, we have created a PowerPot that meets all of our criteria. Now after extensive field testing, we
are confident it will satisfy other users as well.

Right now, we are launching two models, the PowerPot V and the PowerPot X, which respectively produce 5 and 10 watts of usable electricity. The power output of each PowerPot scales with size. So, we are also developing a higher power model called the PowerPot XV, with output of up to 15 watts. All models generate enough power to charge 2+ smart phones, mp3 players, or LED lights at a time. The larger models (PowerPot X and XV) produce enough power to charge larger devices such as tablets.

The PowerPot V is a typical backpacking type cooking pot,
with thermoelectric technology attached to the base that makes it a 5W generator.
This model holds 1.5 quart (1.4 l) and is lightweight, made from hard anodized aluminum, weighing in at
only 12oz. With no moving parts, it will
withstand miles of trekking, wherever you decide to take it. The PowerPot V is a simple, yet versatile and
highly portable power solution, which will allow you to power 2-3 USB
devices at a time. Only heat and water are
required for the magic to happen. Besides making a perfect addition to your next
backpacking/camping trip, the PowerPot V should also be part of your
home emergency preparedness kit. The
PowerPot V takes up little shelf space, has an indefinite shelf life, and it
can be used indoors or outdoors, day or night, rain or shine, and on any heat
source sufficient for cooking. You can store everything you need for a ready-to-go on-demand generator right inside the pot. Below are all three models of the PowerPot to scale:

The PowerPot X is a typical kitchen-style pot, with integrated thermoelectric
technology that makes it a 10W generator. The PowerPot X gives users enough electricity
to power several handheld devices at a time, or larger devices such as
tablets. The PowerPot X holds 2 (1.9 l) quarts of
liquid, and is sized for a small family.
Just like the PowerPot V, the PowerPot X has no moving parts, and has an
indefinite shelf life. This model works
well on a gas range, providing charging power and lighting at home during power outages.

The PowerPot XV is a 15 Watt PowerPot model currently in development. The PowerPot XV uses a 1 gallon (3.8 l) cooking pot. With 15W of power generation, this model of PowerPot would enable a family in a developing nation to generate enough power for their cellphones and even home lighting! It would even give them enough electricity to start a micro-business providing power to their community. Such business are common in many African nations.

One of Power Practical’s goals in creating the PowerPot is to provide a power source for people who lack regular access to electricity, such as people in developing nations, where the spread of handheld electronic devices is rapidly outpacing the development of electrical grids. In Africa alone there are currently over 200 million cellphone users that do not have electricity at home. Many walk over a mile to pay an average of $2-$15 a month to simply charge their phones. It is estimated that by 2015 this number will increase to 400 million off-grid cell users. The use of alternative power sources (e.g. PowerPot, solar panels) which can be distributed throughout the community will be key in developing nations in the coming years. Having widespread power generation available on a personal scale will allow individuals to shift their energy to increasing productivity through better lighting (education) and communication (business) in their communities.

The Regulator Cord on both models has a high-temperature
connector which plugs into the backside of the PowerPot, and three feet of
flame-resistant cabling leading to the USB plug. This makes the PowerPot usable on open wood
fires in addition to stoves. (For other
materials nerds, the connector is a nylon fiberglass composite, and the PTFE-insulated
wiring has a self-extinguishing silicone fiberglass composite protective
sheath.)

The Power Regulator itself is made of all
solid-state components and potted in epoxy inside a plastic box with an LED
indicator, making it waterproof and extremely wear resistant. The standard output
of the regulator is USB so you can conveniently charge the majority of your
handheld electronics. 12V and 9V outputs
will also be available soon, which will allow for charging SLR cameras and
other higher voltage devices, and will work with the same PowerPots you see here. The current regulator outputs up to 5W (1 Amp
at 5 Volts) of USB power, to safely charge your phone and other USB devices. The PowerPot can charge your devices in the
same amount of time as it would take at home (typically 1-2 hours for a smart phone). Power is available within
seconds after placing the PowerPot on a fire, and will turn on a dead phone
within moments.

All PowerPots are being hand-assembled in the
United States, and each PowerPot is put through strenuous quality control testing
to ensure the highest grade of product.
The PowerPot will work under any circumstances as long as you have heat
and water. You CANNOT run the PowerPot
without watery contents, but it also comes with an anodized aluminum bowl/lid
which you can use to fry up some bacon.

Power Practical is looking for customer feedback on this amazing product. We are so confident in The PowerPot that every
PowerPot sold during Kickstarter will come with a lifetime warranty! If you should encounter any problems with the
PowerPot, we ask that you return it to us so we can fix it or replace it for
you free of charge.

So this is where you come in. After years of design work
and many prototypes, we are ready to bring the PowerPot to
market. Funding the roll-out and initial
product run is an expensive endeavor, but with people like you and Kickstarter,
we can turn our dream into reality. We
believe in the emerging power of community and the individual to bring ideas to
life, and we hope that this is just the beginning.

By
pledging $99, you are pre-ordering The PowerPot V and donating it to someone in
need.

By
pledging $125, you are pre-ordering The PowerPot V.

By
pledging $199, you are pre-ordering The PowerPot V for yourself and someone in
need.

By
pledging $199, you are pre-ordering The PowerPot X

By
pledging $175, you are pre-ordering the PowerPot X and donating it to someone
in need.

By
pledging $275, you are pre-ordering a PowerPot X kit for yourself and donating a
PowerPot V to someone in need.

By pledging
$350, you are pre-ordering a PowerPot X kit for yourself and giving a PowerPot X to someone in need.

By pledging
$500, you are pre-ordering a 15 W PowerPot XV for yourself and a family in need.

By
pledging $1000, you receive a PowerPot V, X, XV and send out 2 PowerPot XV to
start micro-generation businesses in developing nations.

At any pledge amount, you are helping to make this innovative
portable power generator a reality. All
PowerPot orders come with the USB regulator. Your order will also include a rechargeable lithium ion USB battery (1800 mAh) pack with a built in flashlight and a 0.3W 60 lumen USB LED
light. These are practical accessories that will let you get the most out of your PowerPot.

We are also offering a lightweight backpacking stove fits inside the PowerPot V along with a fuel canister, the USB regulator, an LED light, and battery. This allows you to keep a lightweight on-demand generator and cook-set packed up and ready to go at a moment's notice. The stove has a built in piezoelectric igniter so you always have a light.

With your support, we are targeting to have The PowerPot V
and The PowerPot X shipping to Backers in June. The larger PowerPot XV is expected to ship in late July. We hope that
you are as excited and charged up as we are by this new technology and choose
to support our project! Please help us spread
the word about the PowerPot. We are
confident that when you fire up your PowerPot, both friends and strangers will
stop you and ask "WTF is that? And where do I get one?!" (It happens to us all the time!)

Note: For international backers please add an additional $10 for items smaller than the PowerPot and $25 for backers of the PowerPot bundles.

FAQ

Rewards

You selected

Pledge $1 or more

72 backers

Every dollar helps! All backers will get our sincere thanks and the option to have their name proudly displayed on our sponsors page at www.thepowerpot.com. Be remembered as one of those who helped bring alternative power to the people!

Estimated delivery:May 2012

You selected

Pledge $2 or more

47 backers

Any amount pledged to this reward OR any additional money pledged on top of other rewards goes to our general fund for sending PowerPots to people in developing nations. Your small contribution can make a big difference!

Estimated delivery:May 2012

You selected

Pledge $5 or more

24 backers

You’ll get 4 PowerPot stickers and a thank you letter.

Estimated delivery:May 2012

You selected

Pledge $10 or more

37 backers

You'll get a 5-LED goose-neck light that plugs into a USB port, which can be used with your laptop, our batteries, the PowerPot, or any other USB port. This light gives 60 lumens of diffuse light and only uses 0.3W. We like it so much, one light comes with every Kickstarter PowerPot and battery pledge.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2012

You selected

Pledge $15 or more

18 backers

You'll get a 10-LED goose-neck light that plugs into a USB port, which can be used with your laptop, our batteries, the PowerPot, or any other USB port. This light gives 120 lumens of diffuse light and only uses 0.6W.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2012

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

33 backers

You'll get a USB battery (1800 mAh with cellphone tips included). This is a great little backup battery. Use it to charge your cellphone on-the-go. It even has a built-in flashlight. Also includes the 5 LED goose-neck light which plugs into a USB port. This handy little battery and 5 LED light come with all Kickstarter orders of PowerPots.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2012

You selected

Pledge $30 or more

15 backers

You'll get a Kickstarter exclusive PowerPort T-shirt. This high-quality shirt lets others know that you were one of the first to support an alternative energy source for the world!

Estimated delivery:May 2012

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

34 backers

You'll get a heavy-duty rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack (5,000 mAh) with 2 USB ports and tablet charging capability. Comes with all the adapters you need to charge cell phones and includes a 5 LED goose-neck light that plugs into USB.

Estimated delivery:Jun 2012

You selected

Pledge $99 or more

22 backers

You will be donating a PowerPot V for someone in a developing nation. Your donation will make a huge difference in this person's life, freeing them from the daily struggle to find power.You'll also receive a kickstarter exclusive sticker letting others know you empowered someone in need.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $125 or more

294 backers

You'll be pre-ordering for yourself or a friend a PowerPot V for this camping season. Comes with the bowl/lid, USB charger cable, 1800 mAh USB battery and a 5 LED USB light. (Retail price will be $150 and no battery)

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $150 or more

235 backers

You'll be pre-ordering for yourself or a friend a complete PowerPot V Bundle for this camping season. This kit comes with the PowerPot V, the lightweight backpacking stove, the rechargeable USB battery/flashlight and a 5 LED USB light so that you have everything you need ready to go.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $199 or more

77 backers

You'll be pre-ordering a PowerPot V for yourself or a friend and also donating a PowerPot V to someone in a developing nation who needs a portable power generator. Your PowerPot will come with the bowl/lid, USB charger cable, 1800 mAh USB battery and a 5 LED USB light. You'll also receive a kickstarter exclusive sticker letting others know you empowered someone in need.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $199 or more

38 backers

You'll be pre-ordering the PowerPot X for yourself or a friend. Your PowerPot will come with the lid, USB charger cable, 1800 mAh USB battery and a 5 LED USB light.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $275 or more

13 backers

You'll be pre-ordering a PowerPot X bundle for yourself or a friend and donating a PowerPot V kit to someone in need of a portable power generator. You'll also receive a kickstarter exclusive sticker letting others know you empowered someone in need.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $299 or more

28 backers

You'll be pre-ordering a PowerPot X and a PowerPot V for yourself or a friend. Get the best of both worlds! Leave one at home for emergency preparedness and bring one wherever your adventures take you.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $350 or more

3 backers

You'll be pre-ordering a PowerPot X bundle for yourself or a friend and donating a PowerPot X kit to someone in need of a portable power generator. You'll also receive a kickstarter exclusive sticker letting others know you empowered someone in need.

Estimated delivery:Jul 2012

You selected

Pledge $500 or more

3 backers

You'll be pre-ordering a 15 W PowerPot XV for your self and a family in need. This size PowerPot will enable a family or school to start a business selling power to their community. You'll also receive a kickstarter exclusive sticker letting others know you empowered someone in need.